Halle 2013

Nadal has decimated the field, by withdrawing, from Halle.

The tattered remainder of Halle draw looks like

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Share/Event-Draws.aspx?EventId=500&Year=2013

As an aside, the Grass Chewing has now a new pair of COWs (Champions of the Old World) cudding (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cud) together some Doubles.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2013/06/23/Halle-Federer-Haas-Teaming-Up-For-First-Time.aspx

Daily Schedule - http://www.atpworldtour.com/Scores/Schedule.aspx?EventId=500

Who wants to bet on the next player to beat a certain 17-slam winner?

Will it be Stubby or Wang-waver? Or perhaps the Jerzy COW...

Federer to bow out in 2nd round

I hardly dare hope for him to progress beyond quarters at the moment!

Fantastic news about doubles with Haas - what a shame not televised!

Come on people, its grass, he will go to SF/F at least, and surely not punish himself a lot for the W.

Federer has a tough draw, but Haas has an even tougher one.

In Federer's current form, even Bye looks like a threat.

But seriously, I predict he will win it. Jancowicz on good day is a threat, and Haas may have had time to recover. I think Haas is a threat if he is fit after last week and gets that far. Raonic is clearly a threat.

The bottom half looks light to me, easier. Less big servers in there. I predict Kohlschreiber vs Nishikori in R3 and the winner of that goes on to the final.

QF
Federer beats Janowicz
Raonic beats Haas
Kohlschreiber beats Nishikori
Gasquet vs Mayer

SF
Federer beats Raonic
Kohli beats Gasquet

F
Federer beats Kohli

A cunning part of my prediction is that there are 2 Mayers in Gasquet's section, and I haven't stated above which one I am betting on.

Florian is the more accomplished Grass player, Leonardo is more of an HC/Clay player. I would expect Florian to make the QF.

He is up 4-1 on Fischer now.

Big serving Brands out.

Goffin vs Zverev should be interesting - 2 "young" talents.
Goffin needs to make a step up soon or he'll be back into tennis Challenger wilderness again - his ranking has plummeted with losing in RG R1.

Goffin 4-1 up.

Mayer beat Fischer 6:2 6:2

It's not the teenage Alexandr Zverev that Inverdale was gushing over at RG, and who was the eventual runner-up in the boys' final - its apparently Mischa Zverev(?) whose ranking is in the 100s and who is apparently 25 (and consequently over the hill )

So Goffin really should step up now!

Ohhhh TP, lol.
Thanks! Well Goffin is serving to stay in the match at 5-6 in the 3rd.

Henman Bill wrote:A cunning part of my prediction is that there are 2 Mayers in Gasquet's section, and I haven't stated above which one I am betting on.

Mayer the Force be with you

Which he didn't. Goffin loses again.
Starting to think he's going to be another ATP journeyman.

Aaaah, what a shame about Goffin!

Goffin. Promise of young talent slowly dying on the vine.

Career W/L HC - 16/17, Clay - 8/10, Grass - 2/4. Still to find his Grass feet and teeth.

Federer/Haas v Melzer/Petzschner (Wimbledon 2010 champions) warming up.

Melzer with a full head of hair.

Break for Fedass ().

TB.

Set Melzner.

GSM Melzner 7-6 6-4. COWs taken to the pasture by the W2010 champions.

Oh dear Tommy and Fed! Still perhaps loosened both up nicely for respective singles assault.

Have you been watching LF?

the quality of Haas/Fed would win some big titles, but obviously a little practice together is needed :-)... too much bumping into each other!

Organizers will be bummed judging by the full stadium that Fedass don't go on,but better for the other team who are committed to doubles and need the prize money more..

Henman Bill wrote:In Federer's current form, even Bye looks like a threat.

exactly

time please wrote:Oh dear Tommy and Fed! Still perhaps loosened both up nicely for respective singles assault.

Yes, Federer did look stiff at net.

time please wrote:Have you been watching LF?

Yes, I did. Haas was not too thrilled at losing the match.

Haas will be dropping Federer and getting a new doubles partner

You nicked my thread, LF! I am distraught, time to drown the sorrows

In all seriousness, I think he'll get taken out by Haas. A Haas-Gasquet final would certainly be worth tuning in for, if nothing else. We'll see how the SHBH fares this week.

Silver wrote:You nicked my thread, LF! I am distraught, time to drown the sorrows

You can have it.

Silver wrote:In all seriousness, I think he'll get taken out by Haas. A Haas-Gasquet final would certainly be worth tuning in for, if nothing else. We'll see how the SHBH fares this week.

Be careful. Haas may get take out by Gulbis, who himself may fall in the next round to Monfils.

I am expecting the other finalist to come from the Kohli/Nishikori quarter. I would not be surprised at a Kohil/Mayer SF.

Henman Bill wrote:In Federer's current form, even Bye looks like a threat.

joke of the year right there!!!

Genius.

Sorry but what is Roger even doing in a doubles match? Surely, he should be looking to minimise his workload/schedule now to stay as fresh as possible for the bigger challenges that lie ahead.

Federer to reach the semis.

I'm not actually sure they expend that much energy in a doubles match. No game goes beyond 7 points, plus it allows him to get his eye and feet used to the grass before his first singles match.

Raonic currently being dismantled by Monfils.

Allez Monfils!

Boring boring Milos! Hopefully Monfils can now stay fit and get back into the upper echelons where he belongs. Allez!!

No tall big server is ever going to win a GS. Ivanisevic was and will remain the only one ever!

So Raonic needs to add a few more skills and run around a little smoother.

Jahu wrote:No tall big server is ever going to win a GS. Ivanisevic was and will remain the only one ever!

So Raonic needs to add a few more skills and run around a little smoother.

The current challenge is that his ex-coach (Blanco) and now Ljubicic have much more experience on clay and HC compared to grass. Unless McEnroe wants to coach him, he will have a tough time on grass. Tall players have movement challenges on low-bouncing grass, so a good returner like Murray or Djokovic will just nullify the big serve.

Safin could play on grass, despite being 6'4", but did not want to become a rabbit.

Impressive match from Mr. Basic so far. Perhaps he can pull it off.

And Basic does.

Jerzy out.

Nishikori falls to veteran Colonel.

laverfan wrote:You can have it.

Be careful. Haas may get take out by Gulbis, who himself may fall in the next round to Monfils.

I am expecting the other finalist to come from the Kohli/Nishikori quarter. I would not be surprised at a Kohil/Mayer SF.

No worries, just joshing you! As long as have a place to chat about the play, all's well. Quite a few upsets already, and the old guard appear to be leading the charge. I'm somewhat surprised to see Kei go, though the Colonel is obviously a good grass player. He'll be a dangerous lower seed in the Wimbledon draw. Who d'you reckon will win Halle, LF?

I would like to see where Federer's form is after the match with Stebe. It is hard to predict right now.

Monfils looks pretty good, as does Haas.

Monfils just withdrew his application for a Wimbledon wildcard. for personal reason.

Stebe gets broken in the first game with errors against his practice partner Federer.

Luthi, Paganini, Mirka.

Even modern grass is enough that Federer can mount a very convincing challenge.  He isn't out of the race yet for another Slam   Looking good here too.

Nice to see Zverev win again, he's definitely made good use of that WC. Looks like a promising player!

LF: I can see Haas going all the way, but as you say, depends on Federer. Looking good for now though. Shame about La Monf, I wonder what's up with him...hopefully nothing too awful.

Paganini, you say...?

Paganini is in the stands watching his protege.

@_Homogenised_ ... he needs to clean up the BH and errors, first.

Sad about Monfils.  Blighted by injury. 

Stebe is not playing that great. I expected better belief against his practice partner.